With the Carabao Cup final upon us, WhoScored.com have taken a look at the best XI of the tournament of those to have made four or more appearances.
Goalkeeper: Nick Pope (Newcastle United) – 7.23 rating
The first of two Newcastle players in the XI, Nick Pope has kept four clean sheets in his five Carabao Cup appearances, only conceding once in the semi-final second leg against Southampton. He has kept attacks quiet thanks to his shotstopping, with 11 saves, a key reason behind the Magpies making the final and his WhoScored.com rating of 7.23.
Right-back: Kieran Trippier (Newcastle United) – 7.52 rating
Kieran Trippier, the second Newcastle player, has probably been one of the most consistent performers in the Premier League this season and he has shown the same consistency in the Carabao Cup. Defensively he has shown his worth, making the second most tackles in the tournament (15), and he has shone offensively, too, registering at least nine more key passes than any other player (20) and 12 more accurate crosses than any other player (21), helping to return a WhoScored.com rating of 7.52.
Centre-back: Warren O’Hora (MK Dons) – 7.19 rating
Warren O’Hora represents the lowest ranked side in this XI after MK Dons made a remarkable run to the round of 16, only to be knocked out by Premier League side Leicester City. O’Hora was well worth his 7.19 WhoScored.com rating, scoring once and helping his side to three clean sheets, including one against Championship side Watford, all the while only being dribbled past once in 360 minutes of action.
Centre-back: Willy Boly (Nottingham Forest) – 7.16 rating
With a WhoScored.com rating of 7.16, Nottingham Forest centre-back Willy Boly partners O’Hora in defence. Forest made it all the way to the semi-finals, and Boly was key in their progression due to his contribution at the back, winning possession in the defensive third 13 times, the ninth highest value in the Carabao Cup this season.
Left-back: Rayan Ait-Nouri (Wolves) – 7.52 rating
Completing the defence is Wolves left-back Rayan Ait-Nouri. His WhoScored.com rating of 7.52 is deserving, with the former French uouth international creating three big chances, the second most in the Carabao Cup this season, as well as scoring a goal of his own, all while maintaining a pass success rate of 88.5%.
Central midfield: Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United) – 7.83 rating
First in the midfield, with the highest WhoScored.com rating at the tournament at 7.83, is Bruno Fernandes. The Manchester United captain has contributed to three goals in his 360 minutes of action, and his 3.3 shots per game is the most of those to register 300+ minutes in the Carabao Cup this season, as United look to lift the trophy for the sixth time.
Central midfield: Casemiro (Manchester United) – 7.18 rating
Joining Fernandes in the midfield is clubmate Casemiro, who has proven a real gem since his summer move from Real Madrid, and his form in the Carabao Cup has been no different, as noted by his WhoScored.com rating of 7.18. He has won possession in the midfield third 20 times, a value that only two other players can better, while also making nine tackles and four interceptions.
Central midfield: Youri Tielemans (Leicester City) – 7.24 rating
Rounding off the midfield is Leicester City’s only representative in the XI, Youri Tielemans. His only goal in the Carabao Cup this season was the opener in the last-16 tie against MK Dons, and he was unlucky not to register any assists, making eight key passes throughout the competition, three of which came in that game against MK Dons, but was still worth his WhoScored.com rating of 7.24.
Right wing: Dilan Markanday (Blackburn Rovers) – 7.29 rating
Starting the attack is the only Championship representative in the side with Blackburn’s former striker Dilan Markanday, who returned a WhoScored.com rating of 7.29 in the Carabao Cup. He scored twice and maintained a shot accuracy of 66.7%, the seventh highest of those to register at least five shots, as Rovers reached the last-16, the furthest they’ve gone since reaching the quarter-finals in the 2011/12 season.
Striker: Che Adams (Southampton) – 7.24 rating
Che Adams has scored nine goals for Southampton this season, five of which has come in the Carabao Cup. No player has scored more than Adams in the competition, and he has done so from 15 shots, boasting the sixth highest conversion rate value of those to have mustered at least five shots (33.3%) as a result, and has played a part in the Scot’s WhoScored.com rating of 7.24.
Left wing: Marcus Rashford (Manchester United) – 7.60 rating
Completing the XI is Manchester United winger Marcus Rashford. Rashford has registered the most goal contributions in the Carabao Cup this season (7), which includes a goal and two assists across both legs of the semi-final against Nottingham Forest, with the 25-year-old proving to be one of United’s most important players this season, and fully deserving of his WhoScored.com rating of 7.60.